They will not, however, be the last players to drop out. There is a Europa League Final tonight involving Chelsea and one last round of Premier League games on Sunday.

So the squad that meet up ahead of the Ireland and Brazil matches may well bear little resemblance to the original one Hodgson would have wanted to select and the one he was forced to select. Reduced at best, decimated at worst.

And yet the news may not be all bad. Ask John Barnes. Ask Mark Hateley. Back in 1984, after their failure to qualify for the European Championships in France, England went on a South American tour that included a match at the old Maracana Stadium in Brazil. Manager Bobby Robson took a patched-up squad that included Watford winger Barnes and Portsmouth - then second tier Portsmouth - striker Hateley. England won and they both scored.

It was a win that launched the careers of both. Hateley moved to AC Milan but it was Barnes who stole the headlines with a goal that was voted by many as the best seen at the famous stadium.

Against all the odds, England had won in Brazil and won in style - and the experiences of Barnes and Hateley should act as an inspiration for any raw recruits called up Hodgson to replace in the inevitable withdrawals.

Any match in Brazil receives world-wide attention and the clash with England only heightens the profile. The opportunities to play Brazil on their own turf are few and far between in a player's career and when the chance comes, it should be taken with both hands - friendly or not.

Hodgson may have to dig deep into the reserve of talent at his disposal. Given half a chance, managers in the Premier League will take their players out of the international firing line and ensure they have a long summer break ahead of a domestic campaign that starts earlier next season because of the World Cup finals next summer.

But a star name's loss could well be a rookie's gain. What is a huge inconvenience for one could be a major adventure for another and it can bring immense personal benefits.